One of my favorite writers from West Africa compares elders with libraries, how the accumulated experiences of our lives get transformed into living, breathing archives. Because, for me, Harold Tartell is one such person (though in no way elderly) , I’ve decided to devote a few posts to him. And he gave me permission to do so. Here he poses at the helm of Sturgeon Bay, WTGB-109; part of the four years (1966-70) Harold served in the Coast Guard, he broke ice aboard Manitou, WYTM-60 along his native river, the Hudson.

Growing up along the Hudson meant seeing a world now gone, like this vessel SS Santa Paula, fresh off the ways of Newport News Shipbuilding in 1958, make her maiden voyage to New York City by way of Albany. I have my own connection with this vessel, which Harold does not know about; I’ll reveal it at the end of this post.

A few days ago I included a note at the end of a post, saying I’d been unable to locate the name of a tug detained in the Tripoli harbor. A few hours later, an email arrived from Harold with not only the tug name but also this foto below. My “Asso 22 aka twenty-two” had become Harold’s “Asso Ventidue.” And he sent not one foto but six! By the way, have the crew and tug been released?

Here’s another recent unsolicited set from Harold in response to an intriguing foto by Steve Schulte I’d stumbled upon; the four-engined,

four-stack pushboat made me want to head right over to the Mississippi to have a look for myself, and I will

do this once the weather clears and work gets caught up. Less than a day later, I got 14 fotos of Federal Barge Line’s behemoth sisters, United States and America.

Harold, I’m publicly thanking you for all the help you’ve freely given over the past four years. You ARE a living, breathing, AND laughing archive. And much appreciated.

All fotos above from Harold Tartell.

Now my SS Santa Paula story: if you’ve been reading this blog awhile, you may have seen the icon on the left side called My Babylonian Captivity, my memoir of the four months I spent as a hostage in Iraq in 1990. I’d been teaching in Kuwait prior to the invasion. Along the coastal highway in Kuwait was Al-Salaam, a ship, then only a restaurant but previously a floating hotel as well. The 1990-1 Gulf War damaged it to the extent that it was soon therafter scrapped, right there. Al-Salaam. . . ex-Santa Paula!

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3 comments

Thank you so much Will for this nice tribute to me. I have enjoyed this hobby for the past 52 years, have met some wonderful people both ashore and afloat (including yourself). I enjoy sharing my photos and knowledge with you, and hope (GOD Willing) to continue for a long time to come. You have been a Great Friend also for the past four years, and this blog that you unselfishly share information about your gallivants and news and photos of the Sixth Boro is very much appreciated by many. I am very happy to be able to contribute to your very successful and informative blog. Godspeed & KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK !!

I am in search of records pertaining to the Sheridan Transportation Co. dating back to WW II. In this research i am attempting to discover names of seamen who served on barges and tugs during WW II in hopes of haveing them recgonized as veterans. Some have been recognized but many have not, especially the women and school children who served. We have a bill in congress that may help us there is we can prove these people existed. HR 1288. i know they did exist, as I was one of the as was 5 other members of my famly. We need hlep in locating these seamen. There may be as many as 10,000 to 30,000 seamen who worked the barges and tugs during WW II with many not getting the recognition the so rightfully deserve. I found you name attached to a photo of the D. T. Sheridan and looked you up on the Web.

I have a blog dedicated to assisting these seamen (usmmv.blogspot.com). please visit it and see if you can relate to it. Would appreciate any help you can offer. Don Horton, 252 336 5553 or jdonhorton@embarqmail.com. Please let me hear from you.